FIFA.com looks back on the thrills and spills in the African Zone, where Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria all made it through.

Twenty-five months of drama ended in FIFA World Cup qualification for four teams and heartbreak for countless others - none more so than Bahrain.

The majority of sides expected to qualify for South Africa 2010 from Europe did so, although notable European absentees include Russia and Croatia.

USA finished top dogs in CONCACAF qualifying for the world finals, and will be followed to South Africa by old rivals Mexico and hopeful Honduras.

Global qualifying for South Africa 2010 commenced in the Oceania zone in mid-2007 and culminated over two years later as New Zealand qualified.

South American qualifying for South Africa ended with Uruguay and Chile making their returns to the top alongside Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.